§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Energy what has been the effect of the interest rate increases of the past 18 months on the finances of British Coal.
§ Mr. WakehamThis is a matter for British Coal. However, I can say that the increase in British Coal's external finance limit of £423 million which I announced on 23 November 1989 was intended to cover, among other things, the effect of an increase of £35 million in the corporation's annual interest bill caused by higher interest rates.